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Mentor

Mysterious shortness of breath: What has helped you?

Posted by Gabe, Volunteer Mentor @gabrielm, May 31, 2018

I will try to make this as short as possible, but this has been going on for over 5 years, so it might be farily long. 

Beginning in summer of 2012, I began having shortness of breath (SOB) with no other symptoms. I felt a constant need to yawn, and every few breaths wouldn't satisfy the SOB. I would take a deep breath, and felt like it would get "stuck" before satisfying the air hunger feeling. About every 3-5 deep breaths would satisfy it, only for it to return a minute later. 

I got an endoscopy and other tests done, which revealed that I had some esophageal erosion due to acid reflux and a slight hiatal hernia and was diagnosed with GERD. I had always have bad heartburn, so I was prescribed with Prilosec, which I have been taking daily since them. I've tried stopping it a few times but the reflux always comes back a lot worse. 

Lung tests and x-rays were normal. Heart tests normal. Blood test revealed a slight anemia but otherwise pretty normal. 

I did some research reading forums where someone suggested taking vitamin B-12. Strangely, I took it and the SOB disappeared almost instantly. However, it only lasted a few days for it to return just as bad. I then started taking an iron supplement, which again made the SOB disappear quickly- same thing; symptom returned days later. 

After further research, I came across a breathing exercise method called the Buteyko method. Essentially you do a lot of breath holding to build up CO2 and reduce breathing as the theory is that I had chronic hyperventilation causing too much CO2 to exit my body. After applying the method and reducing my breathing, the SOB disappeared after only 2 days and I felt completely normal. I continued the method a few more days then no longer felt the need to pursue the exercises. I was normal for a whole year when the SOB once again returned with some chest tightness. I applied the method again and the symptom went away, this time with a little more effort; after about 3 weeks. I included physical exercise which also helped with my breathing. 

After that, I was normal for about 2 years. I mistakenly stopped or at least slowed down exercise and the SOB returned once again. I applied the method and began running for exercise but the SOB kept getting worse. It got so bad, I had multiple panic attacks and the feeling of completely empty lungs with the inability to satisfy it with deep breaths. I had to stop exercise altogether, apply the Buteyko method and do breathing exercises very carefully with very light and slow exercise. This helped, but it took many weeks for the SOB to improve. Then, it was almost normal when over a year ago as I was running, I couldn't get a deep breath to satisfy exercise-induced SOB. I have had SOB continuously since then (a year and a half). 

I once again started doing breathing exercises and slowly building up physical exercise, but I can't do any prolonged cardio activity because the SOB gets to a point where deep breathing will not satisfy it. While the breathing exercises have helped, they have had very little effect compared to previous efforts. It seems that every time the symptom returned, greater effort yields few results.

I suspect there is something, some underlying cause that is causing the SOB that has alluded me this entire time. 

So for the past few months to a year, the SOB is worse on some days, better on others, but never gone. There's no rhyme or reason or pattern for it. It's just there, sometimes affecting my sleep. I sometimes can't get a deep breath to satisfy it every now and then, but for the most part, a big gulp of air will satisfy it. But it returns seconds to minutes later. It's as though every breath doesn't deliver what it's supposed to, the SOB builds up, and then I have to take a big gulp of air to get rid of the feeling, pattern repeats. My breathing pattern is normal, however. I don't feel like anything physical is happening, but sometimes it feels like my airways and nostrils are slightly inflamed due to allergies, but when I don't feel inflammation the SOB is still there. 

Recent lung function tests show normal- I don't have asthma, or any other problems with my lungs. Heart tests are normal though I did have about a two week bout of heart palpitations which came and went. Haven't had any for a while- it just mysteriously started happening then stopped. Blood tests are normal, though tests always show a slight elevation of biliruben which my doc thinks is Gilbert's disease. 

I don't have sleep apnea (normal test), bloody oxygenation is normal, heart rate normal. 

I recently saw local naturopath (since mainstream docs aren't able to help) who immediately suspected a liver problem when I described my SOB, possibly liver inflammation. He used an electrodermal testing machine to test his theory which did seem to show a problem with my liver and gallbladder. He gave me digestive enzymes and a gallbladder formula to help clear a bile duct clog, thus reducing liver inflammation. He also determined with the machine that I have an egg sensitivity so I've been avoiding eggs. 

Been taking this and avoiding eggs for a couple of months, but there has been no noticeable improvement. Everything else is normal. Emotionally I'm normal- no anxiety, depression, etc. The SOB seems to be the only symptom of something, but always comes back worse, until a year and half ago when it came back and has remained since. I feel like I shouldn't have to do breath holding exercises every day just to maintain my breathing well enough to do every day things. 

Does anyone have any idea of a possible underlying cause?

2021/2022 UPDATE:
Since my original post about 3-1/2 years ago, a lot has happened, so I’d like to update the post to share with others who come across this what I’ve done since then.

I have maintained a weekly Buteyko method breathing exercise regimen where I do a few of these breathing exercises 3-4 times a week in the morning. This, in combination with daily light to moderate exercise (specifically weight lifting, with 1 or 2 days a week of walking and light jogging), I feel has kept the air hunger symptoms tolerable and manageable. I have mostly good days with some not-so-good days, but doing a breathing exercise and knowing that it’ll get better again helps me get through those times.

I also have sinus inflammation which can exacerbate the symptoms, but I’ve also managed this, which in turn reduces the severity of the air hunger symptoms.

So, while I haven’t found a cure nor is the problem completely gone, I have been able to maintain normalcy in daily life and manage the symptoms through the strategies I described.

This discussion remains active, alive and well through the comments section where others who have similar symptoms have shared what has helped them as well as suggestions for possible solutions to explore.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Lung Health Support Group.

jaspreet9 | @jaspreet9 | May 24, 2022
In reply to @tonyagregg "@gabrielm @merpreb I alo can do intense exercise and feel good while doing it. It actually..." + (show)
@tonyagregg

@gabrielm @merpreb I alo can do intense exercise and feel good while doing it. It actually started when I started running and I thought I just I was deconditioned but months later I am still trying to catch a deep breath. My oxygen level is good as well as my EKG and pulmonary function test all normal! I am 43 in good heath and never have I had any heartburn or problems with reflux nor do i have allergies. I am constant yawning or trying to get that deep breth that only last for 30sec or so. I guess i wouldnt call it SOB its just that I have the need to fill my lungs up by yawning or sighing. I read about psedodyspnea and it bascially talks about anexity and reflux and again I dont have. I am happy at my place in life. I just dont understand why all of a sudden this started. Is it a neuro thing i wonder at times? I have tried breathing txs and that does nothing. I guess I can live with it but at times its annoying and I just want it to go away. I am on no meds and have a health lifestyle. I would like to keep in touch with you guys just in case there is a miracle answer. Thanks for listening

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Hi tonny hope you doing good . Just want to share my story which is same I am 29 years old and I was running and after few hours it started and did all heart test all good but I am still have difficulty taking deep breath, excessive yawning and my dr. says it’s anxiety or depression but I don’t have any of them don’t know what to do still living with it please let me know if any one have got solve this health issue

REPLY
sheebacat | @sheebacat | May 24, 2022
In reply to @gabrielm "How is your diet? Do you notice any changes to your breathing depending on how or..." + (show)
@gabrielm

How is your diet? Do you notice any changes to your breathing depending on how or when you eat? I.e, if you eat a lot, is your breathing more difficult.

I think that’s a good thing about keeping track of good bad days to see if it corresponds to anything. Curious on if you’ve linked any food or times that you eat with your breathing

Jump to this post

A naturopath put me on an anti-inflammatory diet. Biggest change for me was no sugar. It's been a year. The diet itself didn't help but I have been eating better. What I probably should be doing is a low histamine diet. I follow it loosely. It's hard. I find an anti-histamine every day helps me sometimes. I sometimes get worse just preparing food, cooking. Sometimes I have to rest and eat very slowly. Sometimes I leave the table mid meal to lie down and do diaphragm breathing, then return.
My symptom gets worse with minimal exertion. I walk the dog, play with the toddler grandchild, lift weights at the gym. That's one of the worst things. I am getting ready to go to the mountains for the summer and want to hike without too much effort.

REPLY
2 replies
sheebacat | @sheebacat | May 24, 2022
In reply to @sheebacat "A naturopath put me on an anti-inflammatory diet. Biggest change for me was no sugar. It's..." + (show)
@sheebacat

A naturopath put me on an anti-inflammatory diet. Biggest change for me was no sugar. It's been a year. The diet itself didn't help but I have been eating better. What I probably should be doing is a low histamine diet. I follow it loosely. It's hard. I find an anti-histamine every day helps me sometimes. I sometimes get worse just preparing food, cooking. Sometimes I have to rest and eat very slowly. Sometimes I leave the table mid meal to lie down and do diaphragm breathing, then return.
My symptom gets worse with minimal exertion. I walk the dog, play with the toddler grandchild, lift weights at the gym. That's one of the worst things. I am getting ready to go to the mountains for the summer and want to hike without too much effort.

Jump to this post

What is your current condition?

REPLY
kbhadams0611 | @kbhadams0611 | May 26, 2022

@gabrielm @tonyagregg @merpreb @chrisdh5
So much of what you are describing sounds all to familiar. Please keep me in the loop as well. I'm a 37 year old mother of 4. My constant fight to breathe is the only thing that gives me anxiety. Everything else that's been mentioned, I've been tested for. Had my lungs checked, oxygen level, blood work, allergen tests, Gerd, all of it. No one can tell me why I spend every day of my life fighting just to breathe. It's physically and emotionally exhausting. I've tried all the normal breathing exercises always mentioned online, except for the Buteyko method that @gabrielm mentioned, which of course I will be trying immediately. Usually by the end of the day, and sometimes earlier, I am crying to my husband, telling him how badly I just want to be able to breathe! I'll be ok for short periods of the day, but for the most part it's a struggle. A nightmare, really. Even meds my doctor told me to try for anxiety type stuff like clonzopam, Valium, ativan...some don't help at all, some have helped make it manageable for maybe a couple of weeks, 2-4 hours at a time (with the SOB still always right under the surface). The meds that helped a bit at first don't take long to lose their effect and I'm constantly finding myself back at square one. It effects my every day life, my ability to be the parent I want and need to be. This has been going on for about 18 years. As others have said, there is so rhyme or reason to it. No correlation with activity level, season, I'm not sitting around stressing all the time, working myself into a panic attack. I just for no apparent reason become extremely SOB, it feels as though oxygen is not getting into my lungs fully or that my breaths are insufficient...it's hard to describe unless you go through it, I'm sure you know. NOTHING helps, NO ONE can tell me what's causing this, and no one seems to have any ANSWERS. After struggling for whatever amount of time to breathe, and then finally getting a nice deep breath that actually feels satisfying to your lungs is SUCH a good feeling. But then it's gone. Does anyone have any updates? I'm desperate for answers and help. Maybe I should have made my username dyingtobreathe instead. Lol

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
Gabe, Volunteer Mentor | @gabrielm | May 26, 2022
In reply to @sheebacat "A naturopath put me on an anti-inflammatory diet. Biggest change for me was no sugar. It's..." + (show)
@sheebacat

A naturopath put me on an anti-inflammatory diet. Biggest change for me was no sugar. It's been a year. The diet itself didn't help but I have been eating better. What I probably should be doing is a low histamine diet. I follow it loosely. It's hard. I find an anti-histamine every day helps me sometimes. I sometimes get worse just preparing food, cooking. Sometimes I have to rest and eat very slowly. Sometimes I leave the table mid meal to lie down and do diaphragm breathing, then return.
My symptom gets worse with minimal exertion. I walk the dog, play with the toddler grandchild, lift weights at the gym. That's one of the worst things. I am getting ready to go to the mountains for the summer and want to hike without too much effort.

Jump to this post

Do you get a lot of allergies, and that would be why you do the antihistamine diet? I too get a lot of allergies and notice that my breathing struggles more when my sinuses are inflamed or congested. I haven’t heard much about an antihistamine diet but should look into that.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Gabe, Volunteer Mentor | @gabrielm | May 26, 2022
In reply to @kbhadams0611 "@gabrielm @tonyagregg @merpreb @chrisdh5 So much of what you are describing sounds all to familiar. Please..." + (show)
@kbhadams0611

@gabrielm @tonyagregg @merpreb @chrisdh5
So much of what you are describing sounds all to familiar. Please keep me in the loop as well. I'm a 37 year old mother of 4. My constant fight to breathe is the only thing that gives me anxiety. Everything else that's been mentioned, I've been tested for. Had my lungs checked, oxygen level, blood work, allergen tests, Gerd, all of it. No one can tell me why I spend every day of my life fighting just to breathe. It's physically and emotionally exhausting. I've tried all the normal breathing exercises always mentioned online, except for the Buteyko method that @gabrielm mentioned, which of course I will be trying immediately. Usually by the end of the day, and sometimes earlier, I am crying to my husband, telling him how badly I just want to be able to breathe! I'll be ok for short periods of the day, but for the most part it's a struggle. A nightmare, really. Even meds my doctor told me to try for anxiety type stuff like clonzopam, Valium, ativan...some don't help at all, some have helped make it manageable for maybe a couple of weeks, 2-4 hours at a time (with the SOB still always right under the surface). The meds that helped a bit at first don't take long to lose their effect and I'm constantly finding myself back at square one. It effects my every day life, my ability to be the parent I want and need to be. This has been going on for about 18 years. As others have said, there is so rhyme or reason to it. No correlation with activity level, season, I'm not sitting around stressing all the time, working myself into a panic attack. I just for no apparent reason become extremely SOB, it feels as though oxygen is not getting into my lungs fully or that my breaths are insufficient...it's hard to describe unless you go through it, I'm sure you know. NOTHING helps, NO ONE can tell me what's causing this, and no one seems to have any ANSWERS. After struggling for whatever amount of time to breathe, and then finally getting a nice deep breath that actually feels satisfying to your lungs is SUCH a good feeling. But then it's gone. Does anyone have any updates? I'm desperate for answers and help. Maybe I should have made my username dyingtobreathe instead. Lol

Jump to this post

Hi @kbhadams0611 , first off, I’m sorry you’ve been dealing with this for so long. It’s been 10 years for me though the last few years have been manageable and stable.

I would definitely give the Buteyko method a try. It’s somewhat of a breathing “lifestyle” more then just the exercises. For example, you’d get into the habit of just breathing through your nose and trying to reduce your breathing whenever you can. I remember early on that when in resisted the urge to take a deep breathe whenever I could, this actually made the issue go away for some time. And to this day, I still nasal breathe even when exercising.

How are your sinuses? Are you able to breathe through them clearly?

By the way this is the organization I learned the Buteyko method from: http://www.learnbuteykoonline.net

REPLY
sheebacat | @sheebacat | May 26, 2022
In reply to @gabrielm "Do you get a lot of allergies, and that would be why you do the antihistamine..." + (show)
@gabrielm

Do you get a lot of allergies, and that would be why you do the antihistamine diet? I too get a lot of allergies and notice that my breathing struggles more when my sinuses are inflamed or congested. I haven’t heard much about an antihistamine diet but should look into that.

Jump to this post

I'm on the Facebook pages dealing with Long Haulers Covid and lots of people are taking antihistamines. In fact, when my breathing situation had just started, I found a prescription bottle of Hydroxizine, an anti-histamine, which a dr. had given me to relax before bed. I took a 10 mg. pill that night and I could just feel my chest calming down. Before I found that, I really was considering the ER.
Then I saw that a lot of people are using the combination of H1 and H2 to block histamine. Supposed to work together. Lots take Zyrtec (H1) with Pepcid AC (H2). It's worked for me (off and on). One of each, morning and night.
Also, avoiding or eliminating histamine foods is what lots of people are doing for the post covid shortness of breath.

REPLY
3 replies
stlsampsondev | @stlsampsondev | May 27, 2022
In reply to @sheebacat "I'm on the Facebook pages dealing with Long Haulers Covid and lots of people are taking..." + (show)
@sheebacat

I'm on the Facebook pages dealing with Long Haulers Covid and lots of people are taking antihistamines. In fact, when my breathing situation had just started, I found a prescription bottle of Hydroxizine, an anti-histamine, which a dr. had given me to relax before bed. I took a 10 mg. pill that night and I could just feel my chest calming down. Before I found that, I really was considering the ER.
Then I saw that a lot of people are using the combination of H1 and H2 to block histamine. Supposed to work together. Lots take Zyrtec (H1) with Pepcid AC (H2). It's worked for me (off and on). One of each, morning and night.
Also, avoiding or eliminating histamine foods is what lots of people are doing for the post covid shortness of breath.

Jump to this post

I am sorry you are going through this. Have you tried swimming? Sometimes that can help with breathing issues. https://www.usms.org/fitness-and-training/articles-and-videos/articles/5-reasons-why-swimming-is-great-for-lung-health. Swimming has helped me. I had undiagnosed severe asthma until two years ago and swimming was one thing that helped me.

Also have you tried a nebulizer? That can also help with SOB. Also do you regularly check your oxygen? You can get a device at Walgreens that you put on your finger to check.

Hope you get answers.

REPLY
1 reply
lenchiksf | @lenchiksf | May 27, 2022
In reply to @kbhadams0611 "@gabrielm @tonyagregg @merpreb @chrisdh5 So much of what you are describing sounds all to familiar. Please..." + (show)
@kbhadams0611

@gabrielm @tonyagregg @merpreb @chrisdh5
So much of what you are describing sounds all to familiar. Please keep me in the loop as well. I'm a 37 year old mother of 4. My constant fight to breathe is the only thing that gives me anxiety. Everything else that's been mentioned, I've been tested for. Had my lungs checked, oxygen level, blood work, allergen tests, Gerd, all of it. No one can tell me why I spend every day of my life fighting just to breathe. It's physically and emotionally exhausting. I've tried all the normal breathing exercises always mentioned online, except for the Buteyko method that @gabrielm mentioned, which of course I will be trying immediately. Usually by the end of the day, and sometimes earlier, I am crying to my husband, telling him how badly I just want to be able to breathe! I'll be ok for short periods of the day, but for the most part it's a struggle. A nightmare, really. Even meds my doctor told me to try for anxiety type stuff like clonzopam, Valium, ativan...some don't help at all, some have helped make it manageable for maybe a couple of weeks, 2-4 hours at a time (with the SOB still always right under the surface). The meds that helped a bit at first don't take long to lose their effect and I'm constantly finding myself back at square one. It effects my every day life, my ability to be the parent I want and need to be. This has been going on for about 18 years. As others have said, there is so rhyme or reason to it. No correlation with activity level, season, I'm not sitting around stressing all the time, working myself into a panic attack. I just for no apparent reason become extremely SOB, it feels as though oxygen is not getting into my lungs fully or that my breaths are insufficient...it's hard to describe unless you go through it, I'm sure you know. NOTHING helps, NO ONE can tell me what's causing this, and no one seems to have any ANSWERS. After struggling for whatever amount of time to breathe, and then finally getting a nice deep breath that actually feels satisfying to your lungs is SUCH a good feeling. But then it's gone. Does anyone have any updates? I'm desperate for answers and help. Maybe I should have made my username dyingtobreathe instead. Lol

Jump to this post

So sorry you are so desperate.
- daily netty pot
- yoga (pranayama), tai chi, chi gong, free apps: breathe, breath, prana breath
- has anyone checked if you are retaining CO2? You can have normal o2 but retain co2.
- have you tried respiratory rehab without dx? Look into or ask about re-breather device. I think we all hyperventilate for one reason or the other.

REPLY
lenchiksf | @lenchiksf | May 27, 2022
In reply to @sheebacat "I'm on the Facebook pages dealing with Long Haulers Covid and lots of people are taking..." + (show)
@sheebacat

I'm on the Facebook pages dealing with Long Haulers Covid and lots of people are taking antihistamines. In fact, when my breathing situation had just started, I found a prescription bottle of Hydroxizine, an anti-histamine, which a dr. had given me to relax before bed. I took a 10 mg. pill that night and I could just feel my chest calming down. Before I found that, I really was considering the ER.
Then I saw that a lot of people are using the combination of H1 and H2 to block histamine. Supposed to work together. Lots take Zyrtec (H1) with Pepcid AC (H2). It's worked for me (off and on). One of each, morning and night.
Also, avoiding or eliminating histamine foods is what lots of people are doing for the post covid shortness of breath.

Jump to this post

Thks. I am not on fb, great summary.

REPLY
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